DVD Release And Special Poster Promotion Highlight Sequel To Hit Film NANA Based On Popular Shojo Manga Series

San Francisco, CA, JULY 22, 2008 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the release of NANA 2, the feature film sequel to the popular rock and roll drama NANA, which is based on Ai Yazawa’s best-selling manga (graphic novel) series. NANA 2 debuts on DVD on July 29, with an estimated retail price of $24.98.

In support of the release, VIZ Pictures is holding a special NANA 2 poster giveaway promotion. Fans are encouraged to visit the film’s dedicated official website at http://www.nanathemovies.com and enter the contest before August 20 for a chance to win a full-color poster featuring the cast of the film. Ten random winners will be selected.

NANA 2 continues to follow the highs and lows of two young beautiful women both named Nana. While they share the same name, they couldn’t be more different. After meeting randomly on a commuter train, becoming close friends, and moving in together in the first film, NANA 2 focuses greatly on Nana “Hachi” Komatsu (played this time by Yui Ichikawa), who has become trapped in a love triangle with Takumi Ichinose, the bass player of her favorite band TRAPNEST, and Nobu, the handsome guitarist of The Black Stones. Things become really sticky because The Black Stones are fronted by the other Nana – Nana Osaki (Mika Nakashima), who continues to struggle to find musical success while she continues to harbor a secret relationship with TRAPNEST’s guitarist Ren, who was The Black Stones’ original bass player.

J-pop icon Mika Nakashima reprises her role as the punk rock beauty Nana Osaki and continues to develop that character’s conflicted emotions and hard exterior but sensitive inner self. Actress and model Yui Ichikawa is freshly cast as Nana Komatsu and adds a new dimension to the characters from the extremely popular shojo manga, which has become a social phenomenon in Japan. The film was directed by Kentaro Otani, who also directed the original NANA, with the original theme song produced by Takuro from the popular J-rock band GLAY.

NANA and NANA 2 were inspired by a wildly successful shojo manga (graphic novel) series of the same name by Ai Yazawa, which has sold over 22 million copies in Japan. The English version of the manga, rated ‘M’ (for mature) is published domestically by VIZ Media.

“NANA 2 builds on the engrossing drama and conflicted characters that made the original such a favorite with Japanese as well as domestic audiences and we are excited to now debut the sequel,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “There are some new faces in the cast of NANA 2 but they continue to present the compelling multi-layered personalities and complex romantic dramas that made the manga series such a critical and commercial success. And the film moves to a hip J-rock beat with a roster of hard rocking songs. NANA and NANA 2 continue to show the ability of a wide array of manga-based stories to make the successful leap to the big screen in areas outside the stereotypical science fiction or action genres. We look forward to fans of the NANA manga and the original film enjoying this next chapter in the saga.”

For more information on NANA, NANA 2 and other VIZ Pictures films please visit www.viz-pictures.com.

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.